Vending machine



c. H. DlxoN VENDING MACHINE YFiled oct. 23, 1943 Aug. 19, 1947.

`2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. i BQHA/PLEs/ xo/v g;

HTTOF/VEY C. H. DIXON VENDING MACHINE Filed O Ct. 23. 1943 Aug. 19, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lINVENTOR WCHA/afs H /xo/v l Hrm/swfx Patented Aug. 19, 1947 vnNniN'; MACHINE Charles H. llixon,i Detroit",` Mich., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application october 23, 1943, serial No. stress This invention relates to a vending machine and more particularly to a vendingmachine of the type in which any one oi a pluralityof dispensing devices may be selected for removing one of several articles from a compartment in the niacl'iine.` Y

` An object of the invention is to provide a vending machine 'having a cooling compartment which contains the articles to be dispensed and receives the articles in a series of inclined trays whereby the articles are fed by gravity to a dispensing device. I v

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of dispensingV deviceswhich are normally locked but which may be unlocked by a coin controlled mechanism.,

A further object ofthe inventionA is toprovide means in addition to the coinc'ontrolled mechanism for locking all ci the dispensing devices excepty one, selected `after all have been unlocked by the coin controlled mechanism.

` 8 Claims. (Cl. 312.-67)

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of dispensing devicesmfor movement into and out'of a, containercompartment with means associatedmtherewith tor preventwreturn movement of a selecteddispensingi device after it has started its outward movement? until it has l reached its fully withdrawn position` y Other objects andadvafntage's of the invention will more fully appear from the following description taken Vin 4,connection withxfthedaccompanying drawings in which?v Fig, 1 is a transverse sectidnal view of a vending machine showing a'pieferred embodiment of my invention taken on line v41 of H Fig.' l@L is a fragmentary detail transverse sectional view through a portion of the chute structure included inthe machine 4of Fig. 1 `for receiving articles to'be' dispensed.

" Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of portion of the machine; V" l .n A

Fig'B is an enlarged sectional View through one of the dispensing members; `and Fig. i is a 'sectional v ie` taken on siga.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a cab'- inet I0 having an article containing compartment i2.` Ahinged'lid 'M is arranged onthe upper surface of the'cabinet and'is'hpr'eferably provided with transparent panels It to permit purchasersto see the articles in making va selection. The bottom 'i8 Eof thecoh'ipartment 2 'is arranged on an inelinewith respect to thebase'of the cabinet lll to permit the articlestherein to be fed by gravty't'o'tlie lov/"eredgek of thebottotn es and to the frontofthe'cabinet l o; j A The uppersurfacefofthe bottornMlis pvided with a plurality 'of channelV or trough "shaped chutes 2G for the reception 'of' alignedarticles, which in the "illustrated'form arecartons 22 containing a perishable food product such as milk.

Chutes 2t are defined by a series of spaced apart preferably made of spaced glass panels providing a `dead air space 26 for insulating the upper portionoi the A com partment i2. Cooling coils 28 are arrangedin `the bottom i3 and are connected to a refrigerating unit 33 throughconduitsZ. A drain ellis arranged in the lower corner of the compartment i2 to remove any condensation which might be formed therein. The vending machine illustrated is particularly adapted fordispensing milk containers 22 arranged inAV rows for sliding movement in the chutes 2). At the lower, edge of the bottom IB and in the line with the chutes 2 are. dispensing rnemberst in the form of receptacles with an open side facing the containers 22 for the receptionoia single containerat the lower. end of each row of containers.

The dispensingnmembers 36 are slidable into and out of th e compartment. i2 in a plane normal to the plane of the trays Zil. Thesemembers also extendthrough apertures 33 of an `elongated `panel i Sl whichforms a portion of the upper. face ofthe cabinet lil. The upper lends of.,thedis pensing members 36 are providedwith capsd whichsealthe openings 38 `when the members are `within the, compartment. Handles.. ll2 .are secured to the caps All for the purpose of withdrawing the, dispensing members 36 from th The `bottom of each dispensing member Se is normally iiush with the bottom ofthe .inclined chutes 2li lso that the lower carton oi. each row is' received in ,the disp ensng memberthrough its openside. Whenthe dispensing member ,3G is removed from th e compartment l2,a Vcartonis accessible to a purchaser through the` openl side asindicated in dotted lines of Fig. 3. v t The dispensing members 3d are guided by downwardly extending guide rods il@ secured to the bottom ci the memberst adjacent their rear or open sides. These rodsserve as stops 'for the cartons, preventing downward movement of the row when the members are, withdrawn from the compartment l2. l

A bracket eelextends transversely oi the cabinet and issecured to the side walls Vby bolts-48 securing the bracketli to angle members 5b se' cured to the side walls. The bracket 46 is provided with upper and lower bearings 52 and 55 respectively which receive the rods 44.

Journaled in the bracket i6 is a transverse lock bar 56 having oscillatory movement in end bearings 5K8. A sprocket Bil at one end oi' the bar 5S is operatively connected to a coin controlled mechanism 62 through a chain 64. shown dotted. When the dispensing members 3S are in the compartment I 2, the bar 5S, in its position shown in the drawings. engages notches 5G in the guide rods 44, locking al1 dispensing members against removal. When a coin is inserted in the coin controlled mechanism. the bar 56 is free ior oscillation by release of the locked chain B4. When one rod is moved longitudinally, the .bar 5G is swung out of the path of the notches 56. This unlocks all dispensing members so that any one may be selected and the one Selected withdrawn.

In order to prevent the purchaser from selectn ing and withdrawing more than one dispensing member by a single operation of the coin controlled mechanism, there is provided an interlocking means which operates to lock all members except the one selected and partially withdrawn from the compartment. The movement of any one member causes locking of all other members.

The bracket 46 is provided with a channel track B8 open toward the guide rods M. A plurality of balls 'i0 are received in the track S8. balls 'lll are of a diameter substantially egual to the diameter of the rods lili. The track 58 is arranged with respect to the guide rods M such that the balls intersect the guide rods de. Notches 'l2 are provided in the guide rods it to permit the balls 'IQ to pass the guide rods /lfi when moved transversely thereof in the track 68.

Referring to Fig. 4, the end walls M of the track 68 are arranged in such a manner, with respect to the end rods. that when the balls contact the end walls. the center of the ball does not pass beyond the center of the rod. The number of balls in the track are such that a space. indicated at 15, is provided. space is of' a dimension to permit one of the rods to pass between adjacent balls. When the balls 1i! are in a position as shown in Fig. 4. one rod such 'as the rod 44a is free for movement and by its movement it causes the balls to spread into the path of all other rods, thereby locking them against movement by the balls engaging the notches l2.

It will be understood that when all of the dis pensing members 3G are within the compartment I2, and unlocked by the lock bar 55, any one may be withdrawn regardless of the position. of the balls lll and that such withdrawal movement causes the selected rod to move the intercepting ball out of its notch, crowding the other balls to the left or right into tight engagement locking all other dispensing members against withdrawal. As long as one of the rods 4d. is withdrawn, or partially withdrawn, that rod retains the bar 55 in its unlocked position. When the rod is returned to its closed position, the bar 56, under tension (by a spring not shown) to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, falls in the notches 66 and automatically resets the coin controlled locking mechanism.

Means have been provided to prevent the return of the dispensing member 3S into the compartment I2 until the dispensing member has reached its fully withdrawn position. This means comprises a wedge 18 carried in a notch 8G in the bracket 4S. One end of the wedge 18 is .lournaled in the notch 80 and its opposite end is received in a notch 82 in the rod 44 when the rod is in its locked position. A compression spring 83 urges the wedge toward the rod 44. As the rod is moved outwardly, the Wedge is swung upwardly with its free end in dragging engagement with the surface of the rod, when the rod is moving outwardly; but it is in binding engagement with the rod if attempt is made to move the latter in the opposite direction. At the end oi the rod 44 is a removable clip Sli which engages the Wedge 78 and limits the outward movement of the dispensing member when the rod is withdrawn to its outmost position. A notch 86 is provided to permit the wedge to drop below a position normal to the axis of the rod L14 so that the rod may be moved inwardly without binding on the wedge. s l

From the vabove it will be understood that a purchaser may insert a coin in the coin controlled mechanism and thereby unlock all of the dispensing members 36. A selection is then made and the dispensing member so selected is withdrawn from the compartment. Due to the limited space between the balls l0, it is impossible to withdraw more than one dispensing member at one time. The carton in the dispensing member may then be removed as indicated in dotted lines of Fig'. I3. During this withdrawal movement, thc rod holds the remaining cartons in that row from sliding toward the front of the compartment. When the dispensing member has been returned to its closed position, the row of cartons slides forwardly a distance equal to the thickness of one carton with the front carton in the dispensing member ready for the next purchase.

It will be understood that various changes in cluding the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of 'my invention and it is not my intention to limit its scope other than by the terms of the appended claims.

l claim as my invetin l Y l. A vending machine having a substantially rectangular housing with an inclined top portion, an inclined compartment ladjacent said top portion and extending parallel thereto, a plurality of parallel chutes in said compartment extending in a plane parallel to the inclination of said compartment whereby rows of articles in said chutes may be fed by gravity to the lower edges of said chutes, dispensing receptacles at the lower' ends of said chutes for receiving the lower of the articles in said chutes, said receptacles being movable in a plane generally normal to the plane of said inclined chutes in and out of said compartment for moving the article contained therein from said compartment, means carried by each receptacle for holding the row of articles from sliding downwardly in said chutes while said receptacle is being moved out of said compartment, and means for allowing the movement of said receptacles only one at a time.

2. A vending machine having a compartment, a plurality of inclined chutes in said compartment for the reception of articles which are fed by gravity to the lower ends of said chutes, dispensing receptacles at the lower ends of said chutes for receiving the lower of the articles in said chutes and movable in a plane generally normal to the travel of the articles in said chutes, a guide carried by each of said receptacles having notches, a track adjacent the notches in said guides and extending transversely thereof, a plurality of balls in said track, means for limiting the transverse movement of the balls into and out of the notches in said guide, and a transverse bar rotatable into and out of locking engagement with means on said guides.

3. A vending machine having a plurality of inclined chutes for the reception of articles of purchase, a transversely movable dispensing meinber at the lower edge of each of said chutes for receiving the lower article in said chutes, a depending guide rod for each of said dispensing members having axial'movernent with its corresponding dispensing member through the path of articles in one chute and arranged with respect to said dispensing member to engage the article adjacent the article in said dispensing member to prevent the row of articles from moving downwardly in said chute by the force of gravity while said dispensing member is being moved transversely of said chute.

4. A vending machine having a compartment, a plurality of inclined chutes in said compartment for the reception of articles which are fed by gravity to the lower ends of said chutes, dispensing receptacles at the lower ends of said chutes for receiving the lower of the articles in said .chutes and movable in a plane normal to the travel of the articles in said chutes, a transversely extending bracket below said compartment and receptacles, a guide rod carried by each receptacle having longitudinally spaced notches and supported for reciprocation in said bracket, a transversely extending track in said bracket, a plurality of balls in said track for reception in one of the notches of each guide rod, and a transverse bar carried by said bracket rotatable into and out of the other notch in each of said guide rods.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of a cabinet formed with a plurality of inclined chutes arranged in parallel side-by-side relation and each adapted to receive a series of articles for gravity feeding of the same, a corresponding plurality of dispensing receptacles of box-like form each having an open side facing toward the lower end of its corresponding chute, means slidably supporting said receptacles for individual endwise movement in a plane generally normal to the paths of travel of the articles in said chutes, a panel mounted on said cabinet transversely over said chutes and having apertures therein through which corresponding ones of said receptacles pass in their sliding movement, stop means for limiting the movement of each receptacle to a shift between two alternate positions in one of which the receptacle is located exteriorly of said panel with its open side exposed for access exteriorly of said panel and in the other of which positions said receptacle is located with said open side registering with the end of the corresponding chute, and manual means for pulling each receptacle outward through its corresponding aperture in said panel from the second mentioned position to the first mentioned position therefor.

6. In a vending machine, the combination of a cabinet formed with a plurality of inclined chutes arranged in parallel side-by-side relation and each adapted to receive a series of articles for gravity feeding of the same, a corresponding plurality of dispensing receptacles of box-like form each having an open side facing toward the lower end of its corresponding chute, means slidably supporting said receptacles for individual endwise movement in a plane generally normal to the paths of travel of the articles in said chutes, a panel mounted on said cabinet transversely of said chutes and having apertures therein through which corresponding ones of said receptacles pass in their sliding movement, stop means for limiting the movement of each receptacle to a shift between two alternate positions in one of which the receptacle is located exteriorly of said panel with its open side exposed for access exteriorly of said panel and in the other of which positions said receptacle is located with said open side registering with the end of the corresponding chute, manual means for pulling each receptacle outward through the corresponding aperture in said panel from the second mentioned position to the first mentioned position therefor, means carried by each receptacle for holding the row of articles in its corresponding chute from sliding downward while said receptacle is being moved to its first mentioned position from its second mentioned position, and means for allowing the movement of said receptacles only one at a time.

7. In a vending machine, the combination of a cabinet having an aperture therein, a receptacle having a side opening and dimensioned to plug said aperture, means slidably supporting said receptacle for movement through said aperture between two limit positions in one of which said side opening is exposed exteriorlyr of said cabinet and in the other of which said side opening is located Within said cabinet, means Within said cabinet for gravtationally sliding a series of articles to be purchased toward said receptacle for entry of the foremost one of the seriesinto said receptacle through said side opening when said receptacle is in its second mentioned limit position, and coin releasable means for restraining said receptacle against being manually moved from said second mentioned limit position to said rst mentioned limit position.

8. A cabinet having an aperture therein, a boxlike receptacle having closed ends and an open side, said receptacle being dimensioned to slide endwise through said aperture and substantially plug the same, means for limiting the movement of said receptacle to a shift between two alternate positions in one of which said side opening is exposed exteriorly of said cabinet and in the other of which said side opening is located within said cabinet, and an inclined chute within said cabinet for supporting a series of articles to be purchased to slide sideways by gravity toward said receptacle for entry of the foremost of the series into said side opening when said receptacle is in its second mentioned limit position.

CHARLES H. DIXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,234,766 James July 31, 1917 1,743,917 Henderson Jan. 14, 1930 1,623,947 Frick Apr. 5, 1927 1,711,691 Richter May 7, 1929 '1,018,011 Shank Feb. 20, 1912 2,133,453 Hoban Oct. 18, 1938 1,606,679 Wagner Nov. 9, 1926 

